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VetVine Client Care

Posted On Nov 18, 2015

Updated On Jun 25, 2025

Are You Just Surviving Or Thriving?

Wellness Wisdom

Originally contributed by Gwen Pettit, PT, PCC, MA, MS

Have you ever had a week or a series of weeks where your schedule was so packed that you had to keep moving between events and had no time to pause? 

I am in the second week of such a schedule - with 4 days remaining - jam packed with commitments.  It's been nonstop but I have stopped long enough to answer this one question - "who did this to me?" The answer? Me, of course! Why did I think it was a good idea to take just one day off a week - for two weeks in a row - and then leave that one day for catch-up activities that needed to get done? How did this happen?

Here's another common scenario that may resonate with you. Another clinic was shorthanded, so I offered to pick up a few extra days.  Who hasn’t offered to fill in when asked to help someone out?

Many of us are guilty of this. If we're not careful to take care of ourselves in situations like these we can become burned out, resentful, and prone to making mistakes. So, how do you survive a schedule that provides little or no time for rest or recovery? How do you get through it? In this last instance, I had time to prepare. I cooked ahead and froze healthy meals. I still made time for exercise - even if it was just a 15 minute walk. I commited to shutting down my brain and computer by a set time each night. 

Here are some lessons I have learned - the good things that have come from overcommitting to a busy schedule:

  • I get absolutely clear on what is critical or important to get done
  • It has become easier to say "no" to anything extra
  • I now ask for help more often
  • I now hold my sleep time as essential
  • I resolve to not allow these packed schedules to keep happening


What have you done to just "hang on" when your schedule gets crazy busy? Do you even recognize when you have too much going on? Do you know how much time you need to just do nothing and refresh? If you find yourself having something scheduled for nearly every minute of the day, it might be time to take a step back and readjust. I promise you, it's not sustainable and something's going to give.

"Just hang on" is a good motto for surviving busy times. I prefer to have a daily motto that reflects a healthy balance of work, fun and play. Ask yourself, what can I do to keep my schedule one that reflects and provides for what I need in life? If you're overcommitted, try blocking out time that is dedicated just for you. Amazing things happen when you carve out and maintain open space for yourself.